Skipton Town

Skipton is a country market town in the Pennines. It is known as 'The Gateway to the Dales'. There is a population of around 16,000.

On this page you can see photos of the castle, church, canal, and streets. Skipton gets its name from sheep - the Anglo-Saxon word for sheep is 'sceap'. After trading in sheep., there came the canal, the mills, and now tourism. Skipton gives its name to the Skipton Building Society.

Skipton is in Airedale, and was granted a township by Robert Romillie after the Norman Conquest. It was Robert who built the first Skipton Castle.

Skipton sided with the Royalists in the civil war, and after surrendering in December 1645 to Cromwell, it had its roof removed. Lady Clifford replaced it 10 years later. It is now an important tourist attraction.

Holy Trinity Church, Skipton

Holy Trinity church has been at the top of Skipton High Street for centuries. The first church was built in the early 1100's. Another church was built around 1300. The monks from the nearby Bolton Abbey helped.

The church was extended further eastwards about the end of the 1400's.

During the civil war the church was damaged, but then it was restored in the 1650's by Lady Anne Clifford. She lived next door in the castle. in 1853 lightening struck the tower and damaged it.

There used to be galleries, but in 1909 they were removed. in 1925 lightening struck and destroyed the organ.

pulpit

nave

lectern

the oak screen is over 400 years old

the high altar

the prayer corner

the organ, dating from after 1925

tomb of George Clifford of Skipton Castle

church seats

Mothers' Union banner

The Lady Chapel with the Aumbry light in the corner

St George stained glass window

The font with a highly carved wood cover

Skipton - Leeds - Liverpool Canal

29 miles to Leeds, built in the 1770's, and it took 46 years to build.